The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) expresses worry over reports of people dying while in police detention in mysterious circumstances.
The most recent incidents, according to LAZ President LUNGISANI ZULU, involved CAPTAIN PHIRI, who purportedly passed away on April 12, 2023, while being held at Chilenje Police Station in Lusaka, and JUSTIN KOLO, who was discovered dead in a police holding cell at Kansenshi Police Post in Ndola on March 26, 2023.
In a statement given to ZNBC press in Lusaka today, Mr. ZULU claims that in both cases, relatives of the deceased have been cited in press accounts as saying that the two were assaulted and tortured while being held, which ultimately led to their deaths.
Although the reports have not been independently verified, Mr. ZULU points out that it is regrettable and very troubling when people die at the hands of the police.
According to him, remandees are entitled to all of their Bill of Rights protections, including the presumption of innocence.
However, Police Deputy Public Relations Officer DANNY MWALE has refuted claims that suspects have perished in detention.
According to Mr. MWALE, NO suspect has passed away while being held by the police.
In the case involving the Chilenje Police Station, he explains, the suspect passed out in the police cells and was declared dead at the Chilenje Level One clinic.
According to Mr. MWALE, a postmortem was performed, and the preliminary findings are very different from what is being claimed.
Before approaching the media, he recommended LAZ to speak with the Inspector General of Police.
